This is a collection of notes for a one-semester course in linear algebra taught at San Jacinto College (Houston, Texas). The notes are suited for a first course in linear algebra taken by students who have completed one year of single-variable calculus. Unlike most traditional linear algebra textbooks, these notes begin with the ideas of vector spaces and linear functions (transformations). Since functions play a central role in calculus, this approach should seem more natural to students. Systems of linear equations and matrix theory are presented afterward as consequences of the preceding material. The result is an economical (only 175 pages) treatment of the main themes of linear algebra along with a few applications of the theory to geometry, economics, and cryptography.

This is an advanced topics course in model theory whose main theme is simple theories. We treat simple theories in the framework of compact abstract theories, which is more general than that of first order theories. We cover the basic properties of independence (i.e., non-dividing) in simple theories, the characterisation of simple theories by the existence of a notion of independence, and hyperimaginary canonical bases.